One-piece hinged closure for equipping a container

ABSTRACT

A mold can form a one-piece container closure by injection molding. The closure may have a base portion that inwardly defines an opening centered about a base portion longitudinal axis and a hinged cap that is linked to the base portion by an outside hinge member. The hinge member may have two opposite ends that are respectively connected to the base portion and the cap, thus defining an elongated hinge member therebetween. A mold may include two parts which respectively define two internal cavities facing each other along a longitudinal axis of alignment that coincides with the base portion longitudinal axis. The two mold parts my be movable along the longitudinal axis of alignment between a closed position where they define together a mold jointing plane and an open position where they are spaced apart from each other for demolding the closure.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/123,694filed Dec. 3, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,376,243, which is a NationalStage of International Application No. PCT/EP2012/60817 filed Jun. 7,2012, which claims priority to European Patent Application No.11168943.6 filed Jun. 7, 2011, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a closure for a liquid container and to amould used in the manufacturing of the closure.

BACKGROUND

It is known to equip the neck of a container such as a liquid container,e.g. a bottle, with a closure having two parts connected together by anoutboard hinge.

The closure comprises a cap and a base portion that is disposed aroundthe liquid container neck. The cap covers the opening defined by theliquid container neck in a closed position.

Typically, the hinge is vertically oriented when the liquid container isin an upright position. More particularly, the hinge is parallel to thesymmetrical axis of the liquid container neck when the cap covers theopening.

Known tamperproof means are provided between the cap and the baseportion before the liquid container is put in the commerce.

For example, these tamperproof means may take the form of connectingbridges linking the cap and the base portion when the cap covers theopening of the liquid container.

Before using the liquid container for the first time a consumer has todeform and break these tamperproof means, thereby enabling separation ofthe cap and the base portion from each other and opening of the liquidcontainer.

When the consumer moves the cap from the closed position to an openposition where it is sufficiently spaced apart from the base portion,the cap does not remain in this clearing position due to the elasticityof the hinge.

Thus, the cap tends to move back close to the liquid container aperture,thereby causing inconvenience to the consumer willing to drink directlyfrom the liquid container.

More particularly, the face of the consumer may come into contact withthe cap during use of the liquid container.

The present invention aims at remedying this drawback.

SUMMARY

In this respect, the invention relates to a one-piece closure as definedherein.

According to the invention, the hinge member is formed integrally withthe cap and base portion so as to form a one-piece closure.

The hinge member is a device, piece or member which links/connects thecap to the fixed base portion enabling the cap to move from a closedposition in which the cap closes the aperture to an open position. Inthe course of this movement the cap and the hinge member move relativeto the fixed base portion.

When arranged in its open position the hinged cap is disposed in alateral position which leaves the aperture unobstructed thanks to theinitial inclination of the hinge member.

In this position the cap is held clearer of aperture than the prior artcap with a vertically-extending hinge member.

Thus, even though the hinge member is flexible the cap in the openposition gives rise to less interference with the face of the consumerthan the prior art cap.

More particularly, the cap according to the invention performs a complex3D movement which is not a 2D movement (rotation in a vertical plane) asin the prior art. Put it another way, the cap follows a path which isnot in a vertical plane. In the course of this movement the cap movesradially away from the base portion longitudinal axis and performs a 3Drotation so as to occupy a laterally oriented position in the openposition.

In this position, the cap is not symmetrically arranged relative to avertical plane containing the base portion longitudinal axis as in theprior art.

It is to be noted that the closure according to the invention is easierto manufacture than prior art closures.

Furthermore, the inclined position of the hinge member in the closedposition of the cap makes it possible to have a longer hinge member thanthe prior art vertically-extending one.

A longer hinge member enables improved clearance positioning of the capin its open position. This is because the cap is farther from the baseportion in the open position than in the prior art.

It is to be noted that the hinge member is of generally flat shape.

According to another feature, the cap is centered about a cap axis thatcoincides with the base portion longitudinal axis in the closed positionand that does not intersect with the base portion longitudinal axis inthe open position.

Thus, even though the flexibility of the hinge member tends to move backthe cap towards the base portion the cap nevertheless occupies aposition that is at a greater distance from the base portion and theliquid container aperture than in the prior art. It therefore reducesinconvenience for the user of the liquid container.

Still according to another feature, the hinge member has an elongatedshape.

Furthermore, the hinge member may have an overall shape of a strip thathas a curved shape when fastened to the closure.

The invention also relates to a container comprising:

-   -   a neck having an aperture, and    -   a one-piece closure mounted on the neck for closing said        aperture.

The one-piece closure equipping the container is as briefly mentionedabove.

Thus, if, for instance, the container is a liquid container auser/consumer may directly drink a beverage from the container of theinvention in a more convenient manner.

This advantage is provided at least by the closure disclosed herein.

However, the container according to the invention is not limited to aliquid container. For example, the container may alternatively containother substances as gel, powder, pills, etc.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a mould forforming a one-piece closure of a container by injection moulding.

This mould is in accordance with the mould disclosed herein.

The mould joint plane includes a local shape that is designed so asenable local moulding of an inclined hinge member made integrally withthe base portion and cap.

Such a mould has a simplified structure compared to conventionalinjection moulds used for forming closures of containers by injectionmoulding.

This is because conventional injection moulds make use of a retractableinsert for moulding the vertically-extending hinge member integrallywith the cap and the base portion.

Such an insert is no longer necessary due to the inclination of thehinge member.

Furthermore, the demoulding operation proves to be easier than in theprior art since demoulding of the inclined hinge member only consists inaxially separating the two mould parts from each other. One mould partor the two of them may be moved to perform demoulding.

According to one feature, the mould jointing plane locally includes asubstantially Z-shaped or inverted Z-shaped interface portion formoulding the inclined hinge member.

This shape enables easy and fast demoulding of the inclined hingemember.

The Z-shaped or inverted Z-shaped interface portion is inclined withrespect to the longitudinal axis of alignment of the two mould parts.

This locally Z-shaped interface portion may have two legs and a middleportion extending obliquely between these two legs. One of the legs islocated at a greater height than the other leg and, therefore, is calledupper leg, while the other is called lower leg.

The inclination of the thus shaped interface portion is such that thehighest end of the lower leg is lower than the lowest end of the upperleg.

Furthermore, the highest end of the upper leg and the lowest end of thelower leg must not be aligned along the vertical direction but along anaxis that is inclined with respect to said vertical direction. This axismay be very close to the vertical direction but at several degreesthereto.

The locally-shaped interface portion may be oriented clockwise oranticlockwise relative to the mould parts axis of alignment.

According to another feature, the substantially Z-shaped or invertedZ-shaped interface portion is in a cross-section plane that is locatedoutside the cap and that intersects the hinge member.

According to still a further aspect, the invention relates to a methodof injection molding.

The injection moulding method is easier to implement than theconventional methods for the reasons already given above.

According to one feature, the two mould parts define therebetween alocal recess that radially extends outwardly from said internalcavities, said removable central insert defining together with the innerwalls of said cavities a space that is filled by the injected liquidmaterial for moulding the base portion and the cap, said space being incommunication with said local recess and filled by the injected liquidmaterial for moulding the inclined hinge member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional features and advantages of the present invention aredescribed in, and will be apparent from, the description of thepresently preferred embodiments which are set out below with referenceto the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a closure mounted on the neck of a liquidcontainer (partly represented) according to an embodiment of theinvention, when the closure is in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the FIG. 1 closure in an openposition;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view analogue to FIG. 1 but with a differentorientation of the hinge member;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the cap and base portion of FIG. 1closure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the mould interface used for moulding FIG.4 closure on section plane AA;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of FIG. 5 mould on section plane ZZ;

FIG. 7 schematically represents the mould interface local shape used formoulding the hinge member of FIG. 4 closure;

FIGS. 8a-c schematically depict steps of a method according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 represent partial views of a liquid container 10 (e.g. abottle of water) in a vertical position.

Liquid container 10 comprises a body 12 that is partly represented inFIGS. 1 and 2 and a neck 14.

Neck 14 has an aperture through which the liquid contained within body12 may be dispensed.

A one-piece closure 16 is mounted on the neck for closing the aperture.

The aperture is not represented in FIG. 1 where closure 16 is in aclosed position.

Closure 16 is in an open position in FIG. 2. An additional plastic plug18 (e.g. a sports cap) having a central upper hole 20 is located in theneck aperture so as to reduce the passage for dispensing liquid out ofthe container and facilitate dispensing for a consumer.

Closure 16 closes the restricted liquid passage 20 of FIG. 2 when inclosed position.

Closure 16 comprises a base portion 22 that inwardly defines an openingcentered about a base portion longitudinal axis L.

As represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, this portion 22 arranged around neck 14is permanently secured thereto through conventional means, e.g. byundercut, snapping, interbeads, etc.

Closure 16 further comprises a cap 24 that is linked to the base portion22 by an outside hinge member 26, also commonly referred to as “hinge”in the remainder of the description.

Hinge member or hinge 26 is made integrally with cap 24 and base portion22 and, for example, is flexible. Hinge 26 is a flexible piece whichenables cap 24 to move relative to fixed base portion 22.

Before first use of the liquid container the cap 24 is secured to thebase portion 22 by connecting bridges, more generally by tamperproofmeans, which are obtained in a known manner when moulding the closure.

Before using the container for the first time a consumer/user has todeform and break these tamperproof means so as to enable separation ofthe cap and the base portion from each other with a view to opening theliquid container.

Hinge 26 is inclined with respect to the base portion longitudinal axisL when the cap is in the FIG. 1 closed position.

As represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hinge of the closure is orientedclockwise with respect to longitudinal axis L which represents, here, avertical line. In an alternate embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, theclosure 40 has an inclined hinge 42 that is oriented counter-clockwise.

The other features of hinge 42 are the same as those of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Reverting to FIG. 1, hinge 26 has two opposite ends 26 a and 26 b whichtogether define the length of the hinge.

Hinge 26 has a rather elongated shape.

The two opposite ends 26 a and 26 b are respectively connected to cap 24and base portion 22 and are integral therewith.

As represented in FIG. 1, opposite ends 26 a and 26 b are aligned alongan axis I that is inclined with respect to the base portion longitudinalaxis L when the cap is in the closed position.

Axis I defines the overall inclination of hinge 26.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 axis 1 is inclined at an angle of approximately 45°with respect to longitudinal axis L.

An angle of inclination around 45°, that is in a range lying from 45°−several degrees to 45°+ several degrees provides satisfactory results interms of easiness of demoulding and clearance when the cap is in theopen position (FIG. 2)

However, the invention is not limited to these values as will beexplained later on.

Hinge 26 is generally flat and, for instance, has the overall shape of astrip.

Such a strip has a rectangular cross-section.

It is to be noted that the length of hinge 26 is greater than the lengthof a vertically-extending hinge as known in the prior art.

This greater length makes the hinge more flexible than the prior artshorter vertical hinges.

This contributes to obtaining a better clearance position when the capis in the FIG. 2 open position.

Furthermore, the greater length of the inclined hinge makes it morerobust from a mechanical point of view.

This robustness is a feature which is useful when opening the cap fromFIG. 1 to FIG. 2 position where the hinge is subjected to torsion.

Thanks to the inclination of the hinge the hinged cap is arranged in anopen position (FIG. 2) providing much less interference with the face ofa consumer wanting to drink directly from the container.

In the open position the cap is arranged on a side of the container at agreater distance from the base portion and neck than in the prior art.

It is to be noted that in the FIG. 1 closed position cap 24 is centeredabout a cap axis C that coincides with the base portion longitudinalaxis L, whereas in the FIG. 2 open position cap axis C does notintersect with axis L.

This arrangement is contrary to the prior art arrangement where the axisof the cap connected to its base portion by a vertical hinge stillintersects the base portion longitudinal axis in the open position.

Put it another way, in the open position the interior of the cap israther laterally oriented since it rotated about an axis that is notperpendicular to a vertical plane containing axis L (in the prior art,the cap rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to a vertical planecontaining axis L).

FIG. 4 depicts a schematic cross-section view of closure 16.

More particularly, only cap 24 and base portion 22 are represented incross-section, whereas the hinge 26 is represented in a perspectiveview.

A cross-section plane AA intersects hinge 26 at a distance from cap 24.

Closure 16 is formed by injection moulding in a mould which comprisestwo parts. FIG. 5 schematically depicts the two mould parts 50 and 52 ina closed position in which they define together a mould jointing planeinterface 54.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view on the inclined section plane AA of FIG.4.

Closure 16 is in the background and is represented in dotted lines.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view on the section plane ZZ of FIG. 5.

As represented in FIG. 6, closure 16 has already been formed by aninjection moulding process that will be described subsequently.

Each mould part 50, 52 respectively defines an internal cavity 56, 58,both internal cavities facing each other along a longitudinal axis ofalignment denoted M.

The longitudinal axis of alignment M of the mould coincides with baseportion longitudinal axis L.

The internal base portion 22 and cap 24 are moulded inside internalcavities 58 and 56 respectively in cooperation with a removable insertor core member 60 that has been introduced into said cavities.

Only a portion of hinge 26 is represented in FIG. 6 cross-section.

As represented in FIG. 5, mould jointing plane 54 is locally shaped soas to enable moulding of the inclined hinge 26.

Mould jointing plane 54 has a local portion that is located in the areabetween the closure (cap and base portion) and the hinge 26 and which isrepresented on a side view in FIG. 5. This local portion extends from afirst segment that is adjacent to the highest point of hinge 26 andrepresented by point H in FIG. 5 to a second segment that is adjacent tothe lowest point of hinge 26 and represented by point B.

On a 3D view this local portion assumes the shape of an helicoidalsurface.

More particularly, mould jointing plane 54 includes a local interfaceportion that has a substantially Z shape or inverted Z shape formoulding inclined hinge 26.

Moulding hinge 26 having a clockwise orientation requires asubstantially inverted Z-shaped interface portion.

Alternatively, a mould interface portion used for moulding the inclinedhinge 42 in FIG. 3 (anti-clockwise orientation) is substantiallyZ-shaped.

The locally-shaped interface portion 62 is inclined with respect to thelongitudinal axis of alignment M of the two mould parts.

More particularly, the substantially inverted Z-shaped interface portion62 has two legs 62 a and 62 b and a middle portion 62 c extendinginclined between these two legs.

As represented in FIG. 5, the locally-shaped interface portion 62interconnects two distant portions 64 a and 64 b of mould jointing plane54 that are respectively located at different heights along axis M.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates mould jointing plane 54 without themould parts and closure.

The locally-shaped interface portion 62 is connected to an upper portion54 b of mould jointing plane 54 through upper leg 62 a, whereas it isconnected to lower portion 54 a of mould jointing plane 54 through lowerleg 62 b.

As represented in FIG. 7, upper leg 62 a has an upper end H and a lowerend H′, whereas lower leg 62 b has an upper end B′ and a lower end B.

As the locally-shaped interface portion 62 is inclined with respect tolongitudinal axis M, upper leg 62 a is located at a higher position thanlower leg 62 b. This therefore means that lower end H′ of upper leg 62 ais higher than upper end B′ of lower leg 62 b.

Thus, it is to be understood that the inclination of the locally-shapedinterface portion with respect to axis M has an upper limit (in terms ofangle) that is defined by the position of the lower end H′ of upper leg62 a above the position of the upper end B′ of lower leg 62 b.

Conversely, this locally-shaped interface portion may be much lessinclined with respect to axis M and the lower limit of this inclinationis defined by respective points HL and BL (FIG. 7).

These points represent the respective positions that upper end H ofupper leg 62 a and lowest end B of lower leg 62 b may occupy while stillpermitting easy demoulding of the inclined hinge.

The positions represented by points HL and BL are very close to axis Mso that in this extreme position middle portion 62 c may be inclined ata small angle of several degrees with respect to axis M.

For example, the small angle (extreme angle) may be of 5° approximately.

These furthest positions can be easily obtained through simpleexperiments and trials.

A method of forming by injection moulding a liquid container closure, asclosure 16, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8a -c.

This method comprises several steps.

According to a first step, the two parts 50 and 52 of the mould areprovided.

As has been already mentioned above, these two mould parts respectivelydefine internal cavities which are generally centrally-located withinthe mould parts.

According to a second step, the two mould parts are assembled togetherby being moved along longitudinal axis M as illustrated in FIG. 8 a.

It is to be noted that only one of the two mould parts may alternativelybe in a fixed position while the other mould part is movable.

As represented in FIG. 8b , the two mould parts have been assembledtogether with their two internal cavities facing each other as alsoillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

It is also to be noted that when assembled together the two mould partsdefine therebetween a local recess that radially extends outwardly fromsaid central internal cavities 56 and 58.

This local recess has a complex 3D shape which cannot be easilyrepresented in a perspective view. It is used for moulding the hingemember of the closure.

This recess can be seen only in part in the FIGS. 5 and 6 cross-sectionswhere hinge 26 is apparent.

In a further step still illustrated in FIG. 8b , a removable insert orcore member 60 is introduced into the two mould parts internal cavitiesin order to occupy a position that is represented in FIG. 6.

In this position a space is defined between insert 60 and the innerwalls of cavities 56 and 58.

This space is in communication with the local recess defined above andwhich is intended for moulding hinge 26.

In a next step, a liquid material such as a thermoplastic resin isinjected through injection channels (not represented in the drawings)which communicate with internal cavities 56 and 58. The above-definedspace and local recess are thus filled by the injected liquid material.

The injection process is performed in a conventional manner, inparticular under known temperature and pressure conditions which willnot be detailed here.

Once one-piece closure 16 has been thus formed by injection moulding,insert 60 is withdrawn in a direction opposite to that represented inFIG. 8b with a view to demoulding the one-piece moulding.

As represented in FIG. 8c , the two mould parts 50 and 52 are spacedpart from each other for opening the mould and demoulding the closureand, in particular, hinge 26.

This demoulding step is quite easy to carry out since the two mouldparts have only to be moved along the longitudinal axis of alignment Mof the mould in the opposite direction to that one depicted in FIG. 8 a.

This easy demoulding is made possible by virtue of the inclined hinge.

Contrary to prior art methods, there is no additional insert or drawerto be removed before separating the two mould parts from each other fordemoulding the hinge.

This is because in the prior art the mould jointing plane used formoulding the vertical hinge is parallel to the axis of alignment of themould parts, namely vertical, whereas in the present invention the mouldjointing plane is inclined with respect to axis M.

Thanks to the inclined hinge the moulding and demoulding process is madeeasier and cheaper.

Furthermore, the injection mould is therefore made easier and morerobust than in the past.

In addition, demoulding the closure by simply separating two mould partsalong longitudinal axis M (vertical axis) makes it possible to increasethe number of closures manufactured at a time.

The yield of the manufacturing process is therefore increased.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention andwithout diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intendedthat such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A mold for forming a one-piececontainer closure by injection molding, the closure comprising a baseportion that inwardly defines an opening centred about a base portionlongitudinal axis and a hinged cap that is linked to the base portion byan outside hinge member, the hinge member having two opposite ends thatare respectively connected to the base portion and the cap thus definingan elongated hinge member therebetween, the mold comprising: two partswhich respectively define two internal cavities facing each other alonga longitudinal axis of alignment that coincides with the base portionlongitudinal axis, the internal cavities configured for molding the baseportion and the cap, the two mold parts being movable along thelongitudinal axis of alignment between a closed position where theydefine together a mold jointing plane and an open position where theyare spaced apart from each other for demolding the closure, the moldjointing plane comprises an interface portion for molding the hingemember, the interface portion comprises a first leg, a second leg, and amiddle portion that extends from the first leg to the second leg, themiddle portion is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis ofalignment of the two parts of the mold.
 2. The mold of claim 1, whereinthe interface portion is substantially Z-shaped or inverted Z-shaped. 3.The mold of claim 1, wherein the middle portion has a substantiallyrectangular cross section.
 4. The mold of claim 1, wherein the interfaceportion is in a cross-section plane that is located outside the internalcavity configured for molding the cap and that intersects the internalcavity configured for molding the base portion.
 5. The mold of claim 1,wherein the two mold parts comprise a first mold part that is fixed anda second mold part that is movable.